These players also deserve a chance to shake off their injuries and return to duty.

A draft pick is as much or more of a gamble than an injured vetran. At least you know what they can do at this level, and, furthermore, it isn't like the team didn't have the doctors check out Vilma, et. al. The risk can be minimized.

504, I am enjoying your writing - it is certainly entertaining. However, I must point out that sometimes it seems that as long as the probability we'll win the SB isn't 100% there is something horribly wrong. Also, I note your obsession with the draft and draft picks. Many draft picks never make an NFL squad in any capacity at all, and few are "make an impact right now" kind of players.

I would like to restate the point I made during one of these earlier "sky is falling" style threads: coaching is a critical element to victory - teams that don't have stars at every position win games each week, even against teams that have more "stars". Why is that? Well, a lot of things go into it, but one of them is coaching what you have - game planning for the players you have available. Success can be had with the second string players.

No team has a great player for each and every position. Some teams appear to have more stars, because they are well coached and have the critcal elements in place. On other teams many of the "apparent stars" would be just average.

It's going to be ok. We've upgraded the DL - the most important thing we needed. There will be plenty of competition for the CB spots; this is good. We've got good depth at OL. We've got solid vetran backups at QB, RB, CB, DT, and DE.

Sure, it would be nice to have upgrades at TE, S, and WLB (now), but are you sure the sky is falling?

hagan714

05-21-2008 07:33 AM

Re: Saints' Staff are Gamblers

Thats right JKOOL. You gotta take risks on vets. Drew worked out ok, right? So 1 out 3 do not pan out, oh well. There is always next year to add a few more. You have to have faith that the medical staff can increase your odds finding good players from other teams scrap heaps.
We have been doing this for 3 years now and I think we have done well enough to continue. Rebuilding anything never requires all brand new and high priced parts. You never turn a profit that way.
Sign'em, work'em then decide to dump'em or keep'em.

papz

05-21-2008 07:56 AM

Re: Saints' Staff are Gamblers

Quote:

Originally Posted by 504Highlander
(Post 166833)

Exactly !!!

Injuries happen to all teams. But why start the season at a disadvantage, when it is avoidable.
When injuries occur during the season, you just deal with it.

So you're saying you are and were against us acquiring Vilma from the Jets?

:rolleyes:

That's the only move that we made this offseason that required giving up draft picks for a previously injured star linebacker. Dan Morgan was a low risk high reward player that costed us absolutely nothing.

bobad

05-21-2008 09:12 AM

Re: Saints' Staff are Gamblers

Quote:

Originally Posted by 504Highlander
(Post 166828)

Your thoughts ??

The words "risk" and "gambling" are being thrown about. In most cases, there is no risk. We're not giving injured players large salaries or guaranteed money, and we're certainly not counting on them. If we were putting all our hopes on an injured player, I would be worried too.

BooBirdSaint

05-21-2008 09:58 AM

Re: Saints' Staff are Gamblers

Is this a fantansy league question? Its only in the fantasy leagues that you can create the "all star" roster. Here in the real world teams only have so much money to pay for talent. Why don't you try adding up the real world salaries of your fantasy league team and compare it to the Saints salaries. No team can afford to pay to add Asante Samuals, Randy Moss & Lance Briggs plus renegoate Colston & Will Smith, sign rookie Ellis and continue to pay Breas, Bush and the other role players that play important roles on this team. It about math...

SapperSaint

05-21-2008 10:36 AM

Re: Saints' Staff are Gamblers

1. I don't compare a game to war.

2. I don't compare athletes to Soldiers.

3. There is no comparison to an injured player, and an injured Soldier. So until you have the honor and heartache of dragging your friends "Off the Battlefield", please don't throw those words around like they mean nothing.

4. You can gamble in a game and only lose pride.
If you gamble in war, your lose lives.

Signed,
SapperSaint
OIF 3 Veteran

Sorry guys, just hate when a game and people who play a game are compared to Soldiers and war. Still dislike Kellen Winslow for comparing himself to a Soldier.